Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Basic,” he said. “Bed, bathroom, books.”
“What kind of books?” I asked, perking up.
“Old ones.”
“Like the classics?”
“You could say that.”
“You know how much I love reading,” I said. “And how much I enjoy you reading to me. I respect the classics, but you know I’m more of a paranormal romance and fantasy kind of girl.”
“I know,” he said. “If I had a supernatural book, I’d pick it up and read it to you right now.”
I grinned, warmth fluttering underneath my skin.
“We read about a vampire,” he continued, his voice almost hesitant. “But I know you have other paranormal books on your nightstand.”
I glanced at said books, my brow furrowing. “Do you have a favorite supernatural creature?” he asked before I could remember.
“Oh, that’s a hard one!” I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment. “I really do love them all. Fae and werewolves and grim reapers, of course,” I said. “But I guess if I had to pick one creature to read about for the rest of my life, it would be vampires.”
Ajax coughed on the other end of the line before sucking in a deep breath. “Really? Why?”
“They’re fascinating,” I said. “And come on, eternal life? No sickness, no diseases. Just life. How could I not be interested in that?”
“All in exchange for consuming human blood though,” he countered. “Wouldn’t that bother you?”
“No way,” I said with confidence. Truly, I’d given it way more thought than anyone should. Gotta love getting lost in fantasies when your reality is shit. “I’ve worked it all out,” I said, laughing a little. “If I had to kill people, I’d only feed from the absolute worst humans. You know, murderers and child abusers and the like. And if all I had to do was make sure I fed a little, then there are such things as blood banks. I’d just borrow some so I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
Ajax laughed. “And what about the sun? Giving it up?”
“I’d give up the sun right now if it gave me a chance at forever.”
A heaviness settled over the line between us, and I almost facepalmed myself. I sure knew how to bring down a fun conversation.
“I can see your point,” he finally said, but he sounded sort of sad for some reason.
“Vampires are also sexy as hell,” I said, trying to get back to the playful place the conversation had started.
“What is it you find sexy about them? That they sparkle?” he teased.
“Ah, so you know Twilight.”
“I may have come across it.”
I chuckled. “No, sparkling is cool and all, but the sexy is in the dominance, the claiming and the passion vampires in books always have. The way they are so devoted when they find their true match, the way they will do anything for that person.” I let out a wistful sigh. “It’s a delightful fantasy to get lost in.”
“A fantasy,” he repeated, something heavy about his voice. “You’re not wrong. But the idea of a vampire biting you doesn’t creep you out?”
Warm shivers danced over my skin. “Not at all,” I admitted. “That’s part of the fantasy. Being totally consumed by something else entirely. Submitting in a way that takes total trust. It’s all very romantic.”
Ajax laughed again. “Good to know,” he said, a hint of teasing in his tone.
I yawned, unable to help it. “When can I see you again?”
“Grace, you sound tired,” he said instead of answering. “You need to rest.”
My eyes were already drifting closed. They were so damn heavy. “I like hearing your voice,” I admitted. “Just a few more minutes?”
“You can have as many minutes of mine as you want.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice softening as sleep hooked its claws in me and tugged.
“For what?”
“For being here,” I said. “Even if you are just something I conjured to help make my last days more enjoyable.”
“If I really was some figment of your imagination, Grace, wouldn’t I be in your bed right now?”
“Yes,” I said, a little dazed. “You’d be right here, those delicious arms wrapped around me. Nothing between us. I’d get to finally trace the lines of ink decorating your skin. And find out what your hands feel like against the softest parts of me. It would be just you and me and…”
“And what?”
“Time,” I whispered. “Just you and me and the time I need to feel you.”
“Grace,” Ajax breathed my name, the sound filled with warmth and longing and something else I couldn’t place.
I woke up a few hours later, my phone still pressed to my ear, the line long since dead. And I couldn’t help but wonder how long Ajax had waited until he’d hung up. A part of me felt like he’d been here the whole time, watching over me, helping chase away nightmares that would keep me from the rest I needed.